Deputy Foreign Minister Qanat Tumysh, told reporters on July 31 that the Kazakh-Afghan business forum scheduled to be held in Astana on August 3-5 will not affect Kazakhstan's official stance on the Taliban. The Taliban is officially considered in Kazakhstan to be a terrorist organization, though Astana maintains official contact with Afghanistan's Taliban-imposed government. Tumysh said none of the 150 Afghan officials and businesspeople expected at the forum were under international sanctions. Tumysh also noted that U.S. officials have held talks in Doha with Afghan Taliban representatives, including on July 31. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Kazakh-Afghan Business Forum Will Not Affect Kazakhstan's Position On Taliban, Official Says
A Kazakh delegation meets with Afghan representatives in Kabul in April.